Down Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Down Name Meaning: May have been taken from the Anglo-Saxon 'dun' meaning down or 'low hill'. May have also originated from the forename 'Dunn'/ 'Donn meaning 'dark'.

Thought to have been a topographical name given to someone who lived by a small hill from the Anglo-Saxon word 'dun'. May have also been a nickname for someone with dark coloured hair.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Down Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Down family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 413
Agricultural Labourer 140
House Servant 88
Labourer 48
Farm Labourer 43
At Home 41
Servant 35
Dress Maker 29
Carpenter 27
Farm Servant 19
Pauper 19
General Servant 18
Glover 16
House Keeper 14
Cook 14
Tailor 13
Shoe Maker 12
Farmer's Son 12
Laundress 12
Farmers Wife 11
Annuitant 10
Mason 10
Home 10
Wife 10
Errand Boy 9

Down Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Down 100% 30,772
2 Edwin 40% 4,511
3 Downie 67% 3,265
4 Downe 80% 2,678
5 Dawn 75% 2,247
6 Dowen 80% 1,001
7 Dwine 40% 756
8 Dewin 60% 739
9 Dewen 60% 473
10 Dwan 50% 234
11 Dewan 60% 172
12 Dowan 80% 172
13 Dwen 50% 172
14 Dwane 40% 152
15 Dawen 60% 142
16 Adwin 40% 116
17 Dowin 80% 115
18 Dowine 67% 114

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The surname Down is the most popular version of all its varients

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